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Long Beach Marathon Returns Oct. 10-11, 2026

The Long Beach Marathon returns Oct. 10-11, 2026, bringing thousands of runners to the scenic, spectator-friendly course along the city’s coastline.

Whether you’re running the full marathon, half marathon or Aquarium of the Pacific 5K—or cheering from the sidelines—there’s a lot to do and see on race weekend. From the Race Expo and packet pickup to race-day parking, viewing spots and the Finish Line Festival, here’s what you need to know.

FAQS

The Long Beach Marathon weekend takes place Oct. 10-11, with the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K taking place Oct. 10 and the marathon and half marathon on Oct. 11. The 5K begins and ends at the Aquarium of the Pacific, while the marathon and half marathon start on Shoreline Drive near Shoreline Village and finish at Shoreline and Linden Avenue near the Marina Green. Afterward, everyone can celebrate at the Finish Line Festival at Marina Green, featuring a beer garden, food trucks, team village and photo opportunities.

RACE EXPO

Make the Race Expo part of your Long Beach Marathon weekend. Free and open to the public, the Expo, which takes place in the Long Beach Convention Center’s Hall C, is the place to pick up your race packet while browsing event merchandise, meeting local vendors and discovering the latest in the active lifestyle world. There are also plenty of photo opportunities to capture the excitement. Expo hours: Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 AM–7 PM; Sunday, Oct. 11, 9 AM–5 PM.

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC 5K

The Aquarium of the Pacific 5K is Saturday, Oct. 10, and kicks off at 6:50 AM. It’s a fun 3.1-mile course through the Aquarium of the Pacific, combining marine life views with race day excitement. With no minimum age, it’s ideal for families, as well as both casual runners and experienced athletes.

  • Participants can pick up their bibs Friday in Hall C or on Saturday at the Aquarium from 5:15 to 6:30 AM.
  • Parking: Aquarium of the Pacific lot (100 Aquarium Way) or Pike Outlets garage (65 Cedar Ave).
  • Drop-off: Ocean Boulevard and Cedar Avenue (300 W Ocean Blvd). Participants can then walk down Cedar Ave and cut through The Pike to cross Shoreline Drive and arrive at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

MARATHON/HALF MARATHON

The Long Beach Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 11, at 5:30 AM. It covers 26.2 fast, flat miles from Downtown past the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village, along the ocean through Belmont Shore and Marine Stadium, and around Cal State Long Beach before returning to the Finish Line Festival. The Half Marathon begins at 7 AM. This scenic 13.1-mile race keeps the Pacific Ocean in view for nearly 90% of the course. Runners pass Shoreline Village, the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific and Rainbow Harbor before cruising along the beach path to a downhill finish.

  • Before race day, marathon and half marathon participants must pick up their bibs at the Race Expo in Long Beach Convention Center Hall C, Oct. 9 (1-7 PM) or Oct. 10 (10 AM-4 PM).
  • Parking: Convention Center, Pike Outlets (65 Cedar Ave), City Place A (50 E 6th St), Civic Center Garage (332 W Broadway) and Landmark Square (111 W Ocean Blvd).
  • Drop-off: 448 E. Ocean Blvd. near Linden Avenue (448 E Ocean Blvd). Participants can walk down Linden Ave. and cut through the Long Beach Arena parking lot to access Marina Green and the start line on E Shoreline Dr.

MARATHON/HALF MARATHON VIEWING

You don’t have to run the Long Beach Marathon to be part of the excitement. With runners winding through some of the city’s most scenic spots, spectators can find a great viewing location, cheer on friends and strangers alike, and soak up the energy from the first stride to the final push. Here are some of the best spots to catch the action:

  • Start/Finish Line: Catch both the start and finish without moving, plus food, drinks and entertainment. Find a spot on Shoreline Drive between Linden and Pine.
  • Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool (4320 E Olympic Plaza). This spot at mile 9 allows you to relax near the sand on the grass and watch runners as they hit their stride.
  • Colorado Lagoon (5119 E Colorado St): At miles 14 and 22.5; you’ll see runners pass twice with a short walk along the lagoon’s grassy park area.
  • Cal State Long Beach (1250 Bellflower Blvd): From miles 17 to 20 runners loop the campus while fighting through hitting the wall.
  • Ocean Avenue: This is it! Cheer on runners from miles 24 to 26 as they make the final push toward the finish and catch the half-marathon finale, as well.

Author

Steve Lowery
Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.

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